Um Sees Urgency In Trip To Death Valley

Usually, after the Hurricanes suffer a setback, Beason admits he sheds a tear or two. But he didn't the night following UM's Labor Day showdown with the Seminoles.

Despite the 10-7 loss, Beason said he felt no need to cry when factoring in how the Hurricanes dominated in virtually every phase except special teams.

Today at Clemson, the Hurricanes want to prove they're still one of the nation's best teams, and it doesn't hurt that the Tigers are ranked and walked away from the Orange Bowl last season with an overtime victory.

But according to coach Larry Coker, today's game isn't about avenging last year's loss. Nor does he perceive it as a "do-or-die game," despite the fact Miami hasn't started a season 0-2 since 1978.

Coker said today's game against the Tigers -- played at Death Valley, which has the reputation as the ACC's toughest venue -- is about showing a sense of urgency and setting a tone for the rest of the year.

"We're not worried about losing at the University of Miami. We don't even think about losing," Coker said. "We prepare to win the football game. That's our mentality, our mind-set. We're not going to be intimidated going to Clemson, South Carolina. We're going to take a good football team there and we're going to play good."

Only two teams have beaten the Hurricanes in back-to-back years since the program won its first national championship in 1983, and that's Virginia Tech and FSU. Is Clemson the same caliber of opponent?

Unranked in preseason, Clemson could shake up the ACC landscape. A victory over UM would prove the Tigers have claws a year after losing four of their first five games.

Before beating Texas A&M and Maryland with fourth-quarter comebacks, the Tigers had not begun 2-0 against Division I-A schools since 1965.

Even though his team will have the crowd on its side and an emotional edge after having already beaten the Hurricanes, Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said his squad needs to bring more toughness and effort than it displayed in the first two victories.

"I've told them, `you'll be seeing potential pro prospects. Guys that wouldn't visit us,'" Bowden said. "But you'll be seeing a team we beat last year, so I don't think they will be intimidated."

Miami is attempting to become the second first-time visitor in the past 28 years to win at Death Valley.

To do so the offensive line, which allowed a school-record nine sacks and 16 hurries against FSU, must protect first-year starting quarterback Kyle Wright, whose performance (16 of 28 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown) against FSU showed promise.

"It was enough to make you throw up," left tackle Eric Winston said of UM's film session of the FSU game. "Obviously we need to pick it up."

As does the entire team if this season is to be salvaged.

"Losing two games is not an option for us," said Beason, a former standout at Chaminade-Madonna. "Clemson is a ranked team. They are in our conference, and they are in our way."